Islands 4, 8 and 9: What Each Similan Stop Is

The Similan Islands are numbered from Island 1, Ko Hu Yong, in the south to Island 9, Ko Ba Ngu, in the north, and a day trip is built around two of them: Island 8, Ko Similan, for the climb to Sail Rock above Donald Duck Bay, and Island 4, Ko Miang, the park headquarters, for lunch on the beach. Island 9 and Island 7 are the usual snorkel stops. Siam Adventure World’s Similan Islands Early-Bird Tour From Phuket and Khao Lak! lands on Island 8 and Island 4 with three snorkel stops in between, from US$121 a person (checked November 2026).

The calendar above is the early-bird day, with 4,453 reviews (checked November 2026).

The short answer

If the Sail Rock view is what you came for, make sure your trip lands on Island 8 and climbs to the viewpoint: most do, and the early-bird day does it first, after a 7:00 AM start. Island 4 is the lunch island on most trips, with two bays to walk between. If snorkelling matters more to you than the viewpoint, look for a trip that names Island 9 and Island 7 among its stops. The early-bird day does not name its three snorkel stops in advance.

The numbered islands

The Department of National Parks (DNP) uses the Thai numbering beside the names: Island 9 is Ko Ba Ngu, Island 8 Ko Similan, Island 7 Ko Payu and Island 4 Ko Miang, the headquarters island, with Ko Hok and Ko Ha among the smaller islands of the group. Ko Tachai, further north, was added to the park in 1988.

Island 8: Ko Similan, Sail Rock and Donald Duck Bay

Island 8 is the stop most trips build the day around: a short trail climbs to the Sail Rock viewpoint, looking down on the curve of Donald Duck Bay. On Delight Tours and Travels' day the climb is a 10-minute hike. DNP reported Donald Duck Bay ranked 10th in the World’s 50 Best Beaches list for 2026. The early-bird day lands here first, and Seven Plus Travel's catamaran gives Island 8 its longest stop of the day. Not every trip lands: on One Asia Corporation's trip from Khao Lak you see Sailboat Rock from the water.

Island 4: Ko Miang and the park headquarters

Island 4, Ko Miang, holds the park headquarters, and most day trips stop here for lunch. On the early-bird day it is a picnic lunch at Honeymoon Bay, then time to swim, rest on the beach or follow a nature trail to the beach at Princess Bay. Love Andaman's day trip serves a Thai buffet lunch here in its itinerary, though its highlights put that lunch on Ko Ba Ngu, and One Asia's Khao Lak trip has lunch at the park office on the island.

Check dates for Island 8 and Island 4

Island 9: Ko Ba Ngu

Island 9, Ko Ba Ngu, is the northernmost of the numbered islands and a snorkel stop on many trips. Love Andaman snorkels at Ba Ngu’s coral bay after Island 8; Oh-Hoo's trip from Phuket stops there for a swim and a walk; Phuket Premium Charter's small-group catamaran makes it the first snorkel session of the day.

The snorkel stops between the landings

Most trips add a snorkel stop at Island 7, Ko Payu, as well. Love Andaman’s day, Delight Tours and Travels’ day and the small-group catamaran all stop there, and Seven Plus Travel’s catamaran goes to Islands 8, 7 and 9 without Island 4. Sea turtles are possible on the snorkel stops, not guaranteed, and touching marine life is not allowed on the early-bird day.

Pick your islands

Prices, ratings and review counts from the GetYourGuide listings (checked November 2026). Operators price by date and season, so treat the figures as the shape of the market, not a quote.

Ko Tachai: closed

Ko Tachai, north of the main group past Ko Bon, has been closed to visitors for restoration since 2016 (DNP), and DNP has announced no reopening date (as of November 2026). None of the day trips carded here goes there, and none of them names a stop at Ko Bon either.